Fed Chair Powell recently conveyed some hawkish signals, indicating that rates may remain high for an extended period. His key points included: 1. No urgency to cut rates - Powell stated that the economy is not "sending any signals" requiring an urgent rate cut, suggesting the Fed will likely maintain elevated rates to control inflation and ensure economic stability. 2. Economic resilience allows flexibility in decision-making - Powell noted that the current strength in the economy allows the Fed to approach policy decisions more cautiously. This implies that the Fed has sufficient policy space to respond to potential economic fluctuations, possibly maintaining high rates for an extended period. Dollar Outlook Prediction Given Powell’s hawkish stance, the dollar is likely to stay strong in the near term. Sustained high rates make the dollar more attractive to investors, potentially drawing more capital inflows into dollar-denominated assets and further driving the dollar’s appreciation. If U.S. economic data continues to show robust performance, it could reinforce market expectations of the Fed maintaining a tight policy stance, supporting further dollar strength. However, if economic growth begins to slow or inflation declines significantly, the market might start to anticipate future rate cuts, which could cap further dollar gains. Overall, the current economic conditions and policy signals favor a strong dollar in the near term, but upcoming economic data will be crucial in evaluating its longer-term trajectory.